Harrison County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.9 | 64,639 people · 39th most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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Harrison County, WV falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.9 — 1785th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within West Virginia, it ranks 39th of 55 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Harrison County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 56.7 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 56.7
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 59
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 40
Subprime Credit Population 60
Structural Poverty 43.9
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 57
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 38
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Housing Cost Burden 41.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 51
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 38
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 4
Homeownership Rate 54
Legal Distress 29.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29
Economic Vitality 26.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 3
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Business Formation Rate 57
House Price Change (YoY) 76

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Harrison County
Harrison County, WV 46.9 Normal —
Lewis County, WV 57.9 Elevated +11.1
Upshur County, WV 53.7 Elevated +6.9
Barbour County, WV 49.6 Normal +2.7
Marion County, WV 49.4 Normal +2.6
Doddridge County, WV 43.5 Normal -3.4
Taylor County, WV 40.8 Normal -6.1
Wetzel County, WV 40.5 Normal -6.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Harrison County
Cowlitz County, WA 46.9 Normal -0.0
Chambers County, TX 46.8 Normal -0.0
Boone County, MO 46.9 Normal +0.1
Saline County, AR 46.8 Normal -0.1
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Harrison County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Harrison County

Find an Attorney

West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 304-558-2456

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Harrison County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of West Virginia 1-866-255-4370
Mountain State Justice, Inc. 304-344-3144

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Harrison County, West Virginia?

    Harrison County has a County Distress Index score of 46.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,785th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 39th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Harrison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Harrison County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 56.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Harrison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Harrison County (46.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Lewis County, WV (57.9); Upshur County, WV (53.7); Barbour County, WV (49.6).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Harrison County's score of 46.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Harrison County's CDI score?

    Harrison County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Harrison County?

    Harrison County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 64,639 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.